Four separate approvals stand between you and a nursing job in Australia.
Registration, skills assessment, visa and job offer are decided by different organisations. We explain each one, in order, with links to the official rules for nurses from Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Nigeria, Nepal, the UK and beyond.
See the full pathwayCheck the streamlined route
Each track has its own rules, fees and timeline
Getting one approval does not give you another. Ahpra registration is not a visa, and a positive ANMAC letter does not let you practise. Plan them side by side: they run in parallel and only meet on your first shift.
Registration
NMBA, through Ahpra
Your licence to practise. Starts with the Self-check or the streamlined application.
Skills assessment
ANMAC
A migration document showing your qualification matches an occupation. Not every visa needs it.
Visa
Department of Home Affairs
Your right to live and work in Australia: points-tested or employer-sponsored.
Job
Your employer
Public, private, aged care or regional. For sponsored visas, the employer nominates you.
Where you are registered matters more than your passport
Since April 2025, RNs with at least 1,800 hours of practice since 2017 in an NMBA-approved comparable jurisdiction, such as the UK, Ireland, the US, British Columbia, Ontario, Singapore or Spain, may be able to register without NMBA exams. Everyone else starts with the Self-check.
| If you are... | Your likely first step |
|---|---|
| Registered and working in the UK, Ireland, US, Singapore, Spain, BC or Ontario | Check the streamlined standard |
| Trained in South Asia, Africa or Southeast Asia and registered only at home or in the Gulf | Complete the NMBA Self-check |
| Told you are in Stream B | Plan the NCLEX-RN and OSCE |
| Told you are in Stream C | Look at approved study options |
Guides for your country
Each guide covers the home regulator to contact, the likely registration route, English test planning and problems nurses from that country commonly face.
- PakistanStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- IndiaStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- PhilippinesStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- NigeriaStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- NepalStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- United KingdomComparable jurisdiction: streamlined route possible
- IrelandComparable jurisdiction: streamlined route possible
- South AfricaStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- UAEStandard IQNM route for most nurses
- SingaporeComparable jurisdiction: streamlined route possible
Visa options at a glance
Nurses use Australia's general skilled and employer-sponsored visas. Not every nurse qualifies for every visa.
Questions nurses ask first
Can a nurse from Pakistan or India get registered in Australia?
Yes, many do. Most go through the standard IQNM process: the NMBA Self-check, then the steps for their stream, which for many applicants is the NCLEX-RN and an OSCE in Australia. Nurses who have registered and worked in a comparable jurisdiction such as the UK may be eligible for the streamlined pathway.
How long does Australian nurse registration take?
It depends on your route. The NMBA has said eligible streamlined applicants could complete the process in one to six months. The exam route usually takes longer because of exam booking and travel for the OSCE.
Do nurses get permanent residency in Australia?
Some do, through permanent visas such as the 189, 190 or 186, or through temporary and regional visas with later PR pathways. Eligibility depends on your circumstances and is decided by Home Affairs.
Is this website official?
No. We are an independent information website. Official decisions are made by the NMBA, Ahpra, ANMAC and the Department of Home Affairs.
Independent information only. We are not Ahpra, NMBA, ANMAC or Home Affairs, and we do not give immigration advice. Read our disclaimer.